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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,May 17,2021 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Darrin Rosha o/b/o Orono Station West,Applicant,was present. <br /> Staff presented a summary packet of information(Item 5 on the Agenda under Public Hearings). Barnhart <br /> stated the property owner recently purchased the existing gas station and are looking to rebrand the fuel <br /> sales portion of the business. This property includes the gas station,fuel sales,and several other <br /> commercial entities in the mall building on the property. The applicant is requesting variances from the <br /> sign ordinance,all of which are spelled out in the City Code and Barnhart's memo. City Staff supports the <br /> second freestanding sign variance,they can support some modification to the sign area but Staff has a <br /> challenge supporting a variance that is 2-3 times the size allowed by the City. Staff can support some <br /> modification from the number of canopy signs but cannot support lighting of the canopy. When the City <br /> enacted a new sign ordinance in 2018,one provision was that a canopy sign cannot be lit. Staff <br /> recommends approval of the number of free standing signs,and the number of canopy signs. Staff does <br /> not support variances for the lighting of the canopy and the size of the proposed free standing sign. <br /> Kirchner said the lighting of the sign Barnhart is talking about is the blue and red line running along the <br /> face of the canopy—he asked if the words"Marathon"would be supported as lit. <br /> Barnhart replied yes,the Code contemplates logos and signage on the canopy which would be lit.The <br /> Code allows this type of business to have one street frontage and one canopy sign; Staff can support <br /> multiple canopy signs because of the unique shape of the canopy but cannot support the lighting of the <br /> bars around the canopy. <br /> Ressler asked what part of the presentation is the changeable copy that Staff had opposition to. <br /> Barnhart said as defined by City Code,change of copy is anything that can change the text or graphic of <br /> the sign. This technically is changeable copy with the idea they can put pictures,words,advertisements <br /> on it which could change.By the strict reading of the rule,the price sign is changeable copy,although that <br /> was never the intent of the ordinance so Staff is clarifying that issue with the sign text amendment the <br /> Commission will see later. <br /> Ressler asked if the gas prices were not part of the calculation would it meet criteria for changeable copy? <br /> Barnhart replied it would meet the criteria in the sense that it is the correct ratio. The changeable copy is <br /> to be 35%maximum of the freestanding copy area. <br /> Ressler asked if they know the size of signage of the gas station down the road from this property to <br /> contrast and compare. <br /> Erickson sold that property back in 1997 and they received a variance for height at 16 feet high and has <br /> 75 square feet of signage. <br /> Barnhart noted that sign is in Long Lake so it did not factor in to his comparison. <br /> Bollis clarified Code allows 45 square feet. <br /> Barnhart replied 45 square feet for the freestanding sign area. <br /> Bollis asked if that is 45 and the additional electronic portion?Or 45 including it? <br /> Page 10 of 21 <br />